France Football: Ballon d'Or will not be awarded this year

There will be no Ballon d'Or awarded in 2020 due to a "lack of sufficient fair conditions," France Football has announced, Report says.

The French publication, which organizes football's most prestigious individual prize, believes the coronavirus pandemic's effects on the sport at the elite level means it would be unfair to declare a 2020 winner.

In a list of reasons published to explain the decision, France Football said it "did not want to put an indelible asterisk" on the trophy due to present circumstances, adding "we will always prefer a small sprain (to our history) to a large scar."

It will be the first time since the Ballon d'Or launched in 1956 that its ballot to decide the best player in the world will not be taken.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi claimed the top prize for a record sixth in 2019, with the United States forward Megan Rapinoe lifting the Ballon d'Or Feminin.

Football across the world shut down in March as COVID-19 spread rapidly.